Area stores slash prices to kick off holiday season

DOVER — Veterans Day weekend brings free delivery, no interest for 12 months, 60 percent off deals and the return of the ever-popular delayed-payment method: layaway.

While this weekend was a time to pause, reflect and thank those who have served and sacrificed for the country, it has also became the unofficial start to the holiday shopping season with discounts, specials, and sales galore.

Stores across the region slashed prices for shoppers who were eager to grab items at a low price before the hustle and bustle of the holidays means digging deeper into pockets for last-minute gifts.

Planning ahead was key to shoppers' strategies this weekend, though there weren't too many who admitted to crossing things off their holiday wish lists so early in the season.

Kelie Brison arrived to Kohl's at the Crossings at Fox Run early Saturday morning to take advantage of the “door buster” deals she saw commercials for Friday night.

“I can't say I've ever started this early,” she said, walking from the parking lot toward the door where the promise of the spend-more-save-more theory was already under way, “It feels a little weird.”

Brison said she came to Kohl's for deals on clothing mostly and some small home decor items, but would save any electronics on her list for places like Best Buy or Radio Shack.

Analissa Rey came to the malls in Newington from Newburyport, Mass. to save on taxes with her shopping.

“I like to get the best deals and if I don't have to pay sales tax, even better,” she said.

At Macy's, whose television commercials already jingle with festive holiday cheer, the flair of the season was in full swing with discounts on everything from home goods, bedding, clothing and jewelry.

“I'm getting something for my mom but I haven't ... figured out what,” Shannon McHallerhearn, 7, said, as she looked through the glass cases of gems in the department store.

“She likes rubies. Maybe I can find one of those,” the young shopper thought out loud.

Like others milling around the store, Shannon was looking for the right gift at the right price and that's exactly what the stores hoped to deliver.

But even with all the sales and discounts, items weren't exactly flying off the shelves. Since the point of coming to the stores over Veterans Day weekend was to save every penny possible, shoppers still weighed the purchase of big-ticket items — like electronics.

“I want to surprise my husband with a bigger TV,” Nancy Geilar said. She said her husband is a football fan and currently watches games on an older 19-inch television and she wanted to have him unwrap a flat-screen display as an early Christmas gift.

“I'll have to give it to him on Thanksgiving so he can enjoy the games that afternoon,” she said. That early deadline is what brought her to Best Buy Saturday rather than waiting until Black Friday — the day after Thanksgiving — to start her shopping.

“I usually have a pretty good system,” Nancy said of her post-turkey day outing. “I go out with my sister and we just go crazy.”

Some shoppers said they were mostly looking to avoid Black Friday craziness by coming out this weekend instead.

“I like getting the best price but you won't see me shopping on Black Friday,” Kelly Stawridge said.

A veteran of the annual tradition, Kelly said she was tired of fighting the crowds that day and was happy to enjoy a more relaxed day of shopping on Saturday.

Across the border in Maine, the Kittery Premium Outlets buzzed with shoppers piling into the stores and stuffing their vehicles with goods.

“My sisters and I love Coach,” Ashleigh Karlow said.

Holding shopping bags from Coach and Old Navy, Ashleigh just started her day and was already pleased with her spending.

“Each of us chipped in and wanted to get our mom a new purse. She's usually buying them for us and then stealing it months later to use. Now, she'll have her own,” Karlow beamed.

notable shopping awesomeness:

hot games under $10 and free layaway, just like the commercials that have been running for a couple weeks now say- toys r us

Skullcandy headphones $149.99 Radio Shack

$54 Furby and free layaway at Kmart

Macy's coats, boots and winter outerwear under $100 and 60% off various Homegoods items through Thursday